TIRUCHY: Despite dry land being available, the irrigated land has been chosen for the new bus stand to favour realtors close to DMK functionaries, hence, the government should change the location, said AIADMK leader R Kamaraj on Saturday while leading a protest in Kumbakonam.
The members of the AIADMK, led by the former minister, protested, demanding a shift of the identified spot for the bus stand as it stands on a cultivable plot near Sakkottai, which is about 7 km away from Kumbakonam town.
Kamaraj said that there was adequate space at the present bus stand, which could even accommodate around 1,000 buses. However, the proposed new bus stand land can only accommodate 400 buses, and it is not feasible for operating buses, he noted.
"We suspect the government had selected the spot to support the realtors close to the ruling party. There are several acres of land in Karuppur and the adjacent areas. So their real estate business would flourish once the bus stand starts functioning," alleged Kamaraj.
Pointing out that Edappadi K Palaniswami had declared the Delta region as the protected agricultural zone, Kamaraj said that the anti-farmer DMK government proposed the bus stand on the cultivable land and did injustice to the farmers, he said.
The members also raised slogans in support of their protest and demanded the relocation of the proposed bus stand.